HEMS craft head to China

Bell Helicopter signed a purchase agreement with Beijing Yugao Aviation Group (Textron)

Textron has reported on one delivery and one sale of Bell 429 helicopters for use in air ambulance missions in China.

On 11 April, Bell Helicopter, a Textron company, and United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods, announced the delivery of a Bell 429 to Reignwood Investment. The aircraft will serve as the first Bell helicopter for HEMS missions in China, said Textron.

United Rotorcraft installed a medical interior that includes a machined aluminium floor, additional medical crew seating configurations, and product improvements for patient care and access. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with a rescue hoist and other programme-specific support equipment, said Textron.

“This delivery and Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) validation for the medical interior represents a two-year effort to bring our product into China and we are delighted to be working with Bell Helicopter and entering this new market segment,” stated Frank Graham, senior director of global sales and marketing for United Rotorcraft. “We are confident this will be the first of many opportunities in China available to us because of our product’s CAAC validation.”

On 12 April, Textron announced Bell Helicopter’s signing of a purchase agreement with Beijing Yugao Aviation Group for a Bell 429 during the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition. This is the customer’s first aircraft, said Textron, and will be used for HEMS and search and rescue transport.